Report: Irish's 1-3 Start Causes Ripples In Ranks

October 14, 1985

Although Notre Dame Coach Gerry Faust says his team hasn't given up despite its 1-3 start, the worst since 1962, several of his players say they are discouraged and have lost confidence. ''I don't think everyone has a winning spirit,'' linebacker and co-captain Mike Larkin told The Cincinnati Enquirer. ''It has almost become a habit: go out, don't worry, we'll pick it up next week. I don't know if we have the killer spirit as a whole.'' Lineman Wally Kleine: ''On occasion we've lacked the ability to get up for teams the way they've gotten up for us.'' After interviewing Faust and Notre Dame players in South Bend last week, the newspaper said players are questioning their coaches' knowledge. Faust said the players still have a good attitude, as far as he can determine. Faust: ''I'm not happy with the results so far. That's common sense. I'm happy with the attitude the players have. They've got a real good attitude. The coaches do. No one has given up the ship.'' Notre Dame officials say they'll honor Faust's 5-year contract, which carries him through this season. Faust has a 26-23-1 mark since coming to Notre Dame from Moeller High School in suburban Cincinnati. Faust's 23 losses tie the mark for most losses by an Irish coach, set by Joe Kuharich from 1959 through 1962.